Behest e



(No Model.)

E. E. & E. G. RAFER. MACHINE ECE MAKING ELECTRIC CABLES.

No. 280,764. Patented July 3, 1883.

I j lili" To a/ZZ whom, t may concern.-

'5 have invented certain new and useful Im-A in France) of UNITED STATESPATENT OEEICE.

EENEsT E. EAEEE AND EUGENE e. vEAEEE, oE sfr. oHAMoND, FRANCE,

ASSGNOR TO ALAMAGNY 8L ORIOL, OF SAME PLACE.

`MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRIC CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,764, dated July 3,1883.

Application filed October 2T, 18852. (No model.) Patented in France JuIy 20, 1881, No. 144,034, and in Germany February 18,

1382. Nala-166.

Be it known that we, ERNEST EDMoND RA- EER and EUGENE GERMAIN RAEEE,both of St. Chamond, Department of the Loire, Fran ce,

provements in Machines for Making Electric Cables, (for which LettersPatent No. 144,034, dated July 20, 1881, have been granted to us whichthe following is a speciiication.

The machine which forms the object of this application is intended tofacilitate the covering or surrounding of wires or cables forconducting` electricity with lead. This has been hitherto effected bymeans of lead pipes the interior section of which is nearly equal to thethickness of the cable, so that the insertion of the cable isdifiicult,and the friction so strong as to cause. the rupture of the wires, or, atleast, injury to their insulating-covering.

In our method the lead pipe has a much larger interior diameter than thediameter of the cable, so that the insertion of the latter into the pipeis very easy. rlhis pipe is then rolled in one continuous operation onthe cable, so as to make it adhere thereto, and

'stretching it to about double tlfe length of the cable Without drawingout or pressing upon the cable.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our machine for rollingtelegraph and telephone cables, Figure lis a side view. Fig. 2 is acorresponding plan. Fig. 3 is an end view of the wire-supportingcarriage and its rails. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one pair of rollswith horizontal axles; Fig. 5, -a similar view of a pair of rolls withvertical axles, and Fig. 6 shows the successive changes in thecross-section of the covering lead pipe while being rolled onto thecable.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The cable is made in the following manner: When a cable covered withlead is to have one-fth of an inch in diameter, a lead pipe of abouttwo-fifths of an inch should be developed upon a horizontal board.Through this pipe a small piston is made to pass, either by drawing orpropulsion, to which 'piston a rather strong band is attached. To oneend of this band the conducting-wires are attached, while the other endis pulled, so that the piston, in passing through the lead pipe, carriesa corresponding length of conducting-wires along.

Each conducting-wire is wound up on a cylindrical roller, A. Theserollers, more or less in number, according to the number of wirescomposing the cable, are mounted upon a carriage, B, running upon railsC. Between the rails C are arranged, in the middle of the car- 6oriage-way, grooved pulleys D, which support the lead pipe E. A. fixedsleeve, F, at the end of a forward extending arm, F', of the carriage,serves as aguide ,for gathering the different conducting-wires andpaying them out in the form of a cable, so as to receive the leadcovering, which is obtained by passing the length of cable covered bythe lead pipe through a train of alternating horizontal and verticalrolls, G and H. The effect of these 7o rolls is to reduce the diameterof the lead pipe `and stretch the lead so as to cover another length ofcable, which latter is drawn into the extended lead pipe as thestretching of the lead in the mill proceeds. The grooves of rolls 7 5 Gand I-I gradually decrease in size until they 'have'in the last pair ofrolls of the train the iinal diameter of the cable. The lead pipe isextended, its cross-section becomes smaller,

and it alternately passes from an elliptic to a So circular shape, Fig.(i, each circle having a diameter equal to the smaller axis of theimmediately preceding ellipse. At the same time the wires unroll ontheir rollers A to correspond with the extension of the pipe, and in 8 5this operation the said wires are neither drawn out nor rolled, as thepipe, having become` round, is molded, so to speak, around the iuternalcable. The gears which govern the motion of the rolls are so calculatedthat their 9o velocity may gradually increase, so as to correspond withthe extension of the pipe, whereby the latter remains straight duringits passage through the train of rolls.

clear that in a mill about three hundred feet long cables of six hundredfeet and above may be manufactured, which is an important advantage. Inthis operation the lead pipe is rolled out and extended without injuryto the roo The iinishcd Y cable J is rolled upon a drum, I, and it isinternal wires, the last piu'r of rolls imparting the final pressure tothe pipe. No deterioration of the Wires7 therefore, takes place. Foreneh pair of vertical rollsH We may substitute n drmving-franie, whichwould restore the pipe to the round shape, so that in the manufacture ofCables both rolling; and drawing' could be eolnbined. The number ofrolls may naturally be varied, according to the reduction in diameterwhich is to be obtained.

Having thus fully described ourinvention7 what we claim as new, unddesire to secure by Letters Patent, ism

l. The combination7 with :t train of horizontzil and vertical rolls, of:L movable earriage supportingr as many rollers us there areconducting-wires iol-ming the cable7 said earriuge following` the cableand supplying the required length of wires :is the covering lend `pipeis stretched over the same7 substantially 2o as set forth.

2. The combinzntion7 with a train of horizontal and vertical rolls, ofaniomble carriage supporting,` :1s many rollers :is there are Wiresforming the cable, said carriage having :t fixed 2 guidesleeve :Lt itsfront end, and grooved rollers for guiding the cable and its lead pipecovering to the train ot rolls7 substantially :ls set fort-h.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing :1s 3o 'our invention We havesigned our naines in

